[Millerad1651]

I'm currently looking at a Kia Soul for my wife. She's in a 98 4Runner now, but its miles are slowly creeping up...she's at 308k now.

I've been looking at the Kia Soul since they came out, always liked them. Now that we are starting to look for a new vehicle for her, I'm really leaning toward them.

They get really good reviews online, and have really good crash test ratings. My wife likes them, so there's that hurdle.

Pros: Long warranty (100k powertrain) - loaded for under $20k, although we're looking at a used '12-'13 for around $12-13k - good gas mileage - ease of entry for my wife and daughter - interior is surprisingly large and comfortable - plenty of room for one kid, and the second one we'll have in the next couple years - 2.0 w/ 6 speed auto have decent power for the car...at least compared to the '98 she has

Cons: Top out with a 2.0 4cy - not 4WD and we live in Indiana where we do get decent amounts of snow - less cargo room than 4Runner

I would love to move up to a 4th gen for her, but to find one with low miles we would be going out of the budget...especially since we just bought a house. They most likely won't have much of a warranty left, and the gas mileage is significantly lower. I like to be able to pay for anything financed with one of our salaries. You never know what can happen and I don't want to be stuck with items we can't afford.

So, anyone have any insight into these?

Thanks ahead of time....

[LittleCaesar]

My cousin, who sells medical equipment, has a 2012, putting about 30k miles a year on it. Around 34 mpg with mixed driving.

Great on gas, rather roomy inside for what it is, the material is plastic inside, but not cheap easily scratched plastic as per se in some of the recent Nissans.

The only two negative comments I have heard her make is that she goes through rear tires quickly. I think it may have to do with all the medical equipment she carries. Also her AC compressor got fried, and the cost of just the compressor was $400 and change (covered under warranty).

My aunt (cousin's mother) has a Sorento and it is a great little SUV. If I had kids, I'd choose it over almost anything else out there in that range. If you can save some more pennies, it may be a better choice. They start around here about $15,000 used.

[02SE]

Hyundai and KIA have come a long way from what they once were. These days they are generally very reliable, and use better materials than quite a few competitors.

As an example; Toyota in recent years seems to have been on a de-contenting campaign. Cheaper plastics with every refresh, seeming to be the norm.

Although in contrast, I think the '14 4Runner refresh used a bit better interior materials, than the '10-'13 models.

[Millerad1651]

Originally Posted by LittleCaesar

My cousin, who sells medical equipment, has a 2012, putting about 30k miles a year on it. Around 34 mpg with mixed driving.

Great on gas, rather roomy inside for what it is, the material is plastic inside, but not cheap easily scratched plastic as per se in some of the recent Nissans.

The only two negative comments I have heard her make is that she goes through rear tires quickly. I think it may have to do with all the medical equipment she carries. Also her AC compressor got fried, and the cost of just the compressor was $400 and change (covered under warranty).

My aunt (cousin's mother) has a Sorento and it is a great little SUV. If I had kids, I'd choose it over almost anything else out there in that range. If you can save some more pennies, it may be a better choice. They start around here about $15,000 used.

Thats not too bad considering the amount she is driving. My wife has gone approx. 20k in the last 4 years. The ones I have looked at have the warranty (100k) transfer, so even better. Its also nice that they are roomier than they look inside, I'm 6'1", so I'd need a bit more room.

There is an '06 Sorrento at a local dealership, sitting at 56k. They are asking $9500 for it. Its pretty much loaded. The only thing I've seen negative about them is their gas mileage...it would be similar to what she gets now in her '98.

Originally Posted by 02SE

Hyundai and KIA have come a long way from what they once were. These days they are generally very reliable, and use better materials than quite a few competitors.

As an example; Toyota in recent years seems to have been on a de-contenting campaign. Cheaper plastics with every refresh, seeming to be the norm.

Although in contrast, I think the '14 4Runner refresh used a bit better interior materials, than the '10-'13 models.

I have definitely noticed that. I know a few people with Hyundais, and they all really like them.

I've really liked the Kias the past few years as well...plus, a 100K mile warranty says something for their expected reliability.

Thanks for the input guys.

[LittleCaesar]

My remember my cousin saying that you really had to get on the gas to get it up to speed for an on ramp to a highway, etc. I think it is actually a 2011 with the 1.6 in it instead of a 2012, whether that one had the 2.0 in it or not.

The 2013 Sorento is well laid out, though I could not tell ya about a 2006. I have heard about the crank bolt on the Sorento sheering off (how I don't know). One of the office ladies here at work has a 2008 4wd. 122,000+ miles with no big problems. Take a test drive and see.

As 02SE postulated, both Hyundai and Kia have made much better cars in the last ten years than before.

Post a pic when the Kia arrives.

[toy4xchris]

I used to work in the Port and we had the Kia's and Hyundai's coming in off the boat my job was installing accessories, decals, emblems the cars seem fairly well built and we moved a lot of them through 3-400 a day easy. We worked on numbers we generally were expected to move around 500 cars a day with a 24hr shift.

The biggest things I noticed:

Paint- not great if you have ever worked around paint take a close look and most are really badly orange peeled. I remember some guys in the body shop area that hated mounting spoilers because they always had to buff them out from scratches and when they did that it made the rest of the cars paint look even worse.

trim- mud flaps, fender well etc screws are not that great lots of just plastic snaps that come apart and screws a lot of time are stripped.

interior trim- most of them are fairly decent for the price range everything being just plastic.

I am sure I could come up with more but ya. They are what they are cheap economy cars. I personally wouldn't buy one but from how many we had to work on they obviously are pretty popular.

[02SE]

Originally Posted by toy4xchris

I used to work in the Port and we had the Kia's and Hyundai's coming in off the boat

How long ago was this?

As I said, they have improved quite a bit over what they once were.

[texas4rnr]

Wouldn't buy Kia myself but I have heard they've made great strides. I think you'll be disappointed in the longevity with Kia or Hyundai, they simply aren't made to go and go. I'd get a Hyundai over a Kia. If it's a looks thing and she's set on it based on that, you're in for an uphill battle.

Edit: 4Runner or bust in my opinion.

[toy4xchris]

I worked there about 2 years ago so it wasn't that far back

[Twan]

My mom bought one last year and her and my dad love it. I believe it's a '13 with the 2L. I've only driven it once, and it had lots of headroom for me(I'm 6'), interior seemed pretty nice, and it rode and accelerated well. My parents love it because it was cheap, pretty loaded, gets good mileage, and it's easy for them to get in and out of since they're in their late 60s. Definitely not a bad little car.